Device for feeding work in circular paths



Jan. 14, 1930. s. E. ANDERSON ,8

DEVICE FOR FEEDING WORK IN CIRCULAR PATHS FiledJan. 12, 1926 2Sheets-Sheet 1 1y WWW) ma Jan. 14, 1930. e. E. ANDERSON 1,743,874

' mavxcn FOR FEEDING wonx m cmcumm runs Filed Jan. 1-2, 1925' 2Sheets-Sheet 2 perforating coincide with the lines. In con Patented Jan.14, 1930 nNrrr. STATES PATENT OFFICE GUSTAF E. ANDERSON, 0F BROCKTON,MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE PEERLESS MACHHVERY COMPANY, OF BOSTON,MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSA- CHUSET'IS DEVICE FOR FEEDING WORKIN CIRCULAR PATHS Application filed January 12, 1926. Serial No. 80,808.

This invention relates to a device for feeding work in a circular pathfor use in sewing, perforating and similar machines.

In the manufacture of shoes, it is customary in many styles to ornamentvarious portions of the shoe uppers with stitching or perforating invarious designs. These designs are generally first marked or indicatedon the shoe parts by dies or stamps or in other suitable ways and theoperator in the stitching or perforating operation feeds the work byhand to follow the marked lines. When the design is made up of curved orcircular lines the operator has more or less difficulty in feeding thework to have the stitching 01'' sequence, the lines of stitching orperforating making up the design frequently lack symmetry and are unevenand irregular thereby spoiling the attractive appearance off the shoes.

The main object of my invention is the provision of a device applicableto sewing, perforating or similar machines for feeding the work in suchmanner'that the usual operation of the machine produces sewing, pera soforating or similar work in mechanically perfect circular lines.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of thecharacter described which is simple and efficient in construction, whichmay be applied to the machine with facility and which is durable.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means soconstructed that the radius of the circular stitching or other work maybe varied at will by the making of a few simple adjustments.

An additional object is the provision of a device so constructed as topermit of ad justment in close proximity to the work feed ing means inorder to secure circular stitching, perforating or similar work of verysmall radii.

Other objects of the invention will be more specifically set forth anddescribed hereafter.

.' In its preferred form, my invention conberand means for securing orclamping the Work thereon so that it will turn with the rotatablemember. The rotatable member, such as a turn-table, for instance, may bemounted on the work-support of the machine and when the work is securedthereto the usual and ordinary operation of the feedinginstrumentalities of the machine upon the work causes it to swing withthe turn-table as a pivot with the result that the stitching,perforating or other operation on the work will run in a true circlethereon, the radius of the circle being the distance from the center ofthe turn-table to the operating device. By changing the work on theturntable after each circle,half circle or other portion of a. circlehas been stitched or perforated on the work, it is possible to decoratethe Work with a great variety of designs all mechanically perfect. Therotatable member and clamping members may be so mounted as to be movabletoward and from the operating instrumentality for producing circularcurves of various radii. There is practically no limit to the variety ofdesigns which may be produced with mechanical perfection by the use ofmy invention.

' In the drawings, illustrating one embodiment of my invention, Figure 1is a front elevation partly in section of the operative end of a sewingmachine provided with a feeding device constructed and adapted foroperation in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is an end elevation ofthe same, looking from left to right in'Figure 1; Fig.3 is a centralvertical sectional view. partly in elevation of the rotatable member andmeans for clamping the work thereon, shown in an inoperative position;Fig. 4 s a similar view in an operative position; Fig. 5 is a view inperspective of the means for exerting pressure upon the means forclamping the work upon the rotatable member; Fig. 6 is a view inperspective of the arm carrying the clamping means showing the method ofmounting said arm to permit it to be turned out of the way when not inuse; Fig. 7 is a View in perspective of the rotatable member orturn-table; Fig. 8 is a plan view of a shoe vamp provided with stitchingof the character performed by the the rotatable. member; ore-turnrtable. and .arranged so thatwhen the WOBk iszfedit will:

turn with the turn-table and will in eifect be pivoted on a pointinthecenter-Jot .rota'tiom thereof. For preventing any relative movementbetween the workandthe'turn-table and clamp, a plurality of pin points14 for piercing the work may be formed either, on} the turn-table or theclamp. Since the work is generally fed in machines of this characterwith the right side uppermost, the pin points 14 are preferably placedupon the turn-table in order to penetrate the'wrong sideof the work andthereby avoid marring the right side but where the workis fed 'with'thewrong side uppermost, then the pinpoints shouldbe placed upon the clamp.Thelower face of the clamp maybe providedwith an annular recess in whichmay be forced a .ru'bberring 15 adapted to-project downwardlybeyond theface of the clamp for engaging the work and to prevent any markingthereof which might Eesult from the pressure-of a hard metallic ace. 1The clamp 12 may be threaded-upon a stem 16 which is loosely mounted'ina. bearing 17 formed on the end of an arm 18 and the upper portion ofthe stem may be enlarged to form a shoulder 20for engaging acomplementary shoulder in the bearing l7 to limit its downward movement.Although the stem is loosely mounted inthe bearing 17, it is lockedtherein, on one side by its enlarged upper portion and on the other sideby the clamp 12. The latter may also be provided with a central borewhich extends upwardly into the "stem and is there enlarged forreceiving looselya pin 22 which is retained within the clamp by itsenlarged head 23 and which acts as a pivot guide 'pin for locating thework in exact and proper position upon the turn-table. Thepin is held inlowermost position 'bygravity but being loosely mounted it does not markthe work and when the clampis depressed tohold the work on theturn-table theguide-pin is retracted into the clamp.

Any suitable means maybe provided for moving the turn-table to vary theradius of the work and "one suchrmeans is showncomprising a ,sl-i'de28"(Fig. '1) which may be mounted in the work-support 30 of the machine andin one end "of which the turn-table 10 is rotatably mounted. The lattermay be made in a collar button shape as shown in Fig. 7 and therebylocked'loose-lvin-said slide against removal but being left free to turntherein; The slidemay 'be provided with a of a rod 36 loosely mounted ina bushing-38 which'inturnzmay be fastened by .a set-screw 40transversely in the enlarged end 41 of a rod'42. The -latter-;rod:issupported in the downwardly turned end 44 of an arm 45 adapted to bemounted in the presser-bar 47 or other suitable partof the machine towhich my device is applied. That end of the arm 45 which is fastened tothe presserbar may be formed in the shape of a split colla1"-50 adaptedto surround the Presser-bar and'to'be closed tightly-about it by a screw52.

The rod 42' may be normally held fixed in the end 4401? the arm 45 by aset-screw 54 but when-the set-screw is released the rod 42 may be movedlongitudinally to adjust theclamp 12in accordance with the adjustmentofthe turn-table'in relation to the operating instrumentalities. The clamp12 may also be adjusted in a direction transverse to the foregoingadjustment in order to take -care of variations in thedistance bet-weenthe; presserbar or other part carrying the arm 15 and the operating toolwhich may differ in the different machines to which my device may beapplied. One form of such means is shown comprising-the bushing 38carrying 'the rod 36 upon which the clamp mechanism is {astened. Uponreleasing the set-screw 10 the bushing'mayb'e adjusted longitudinal-l inthe end o'f-the rod 42; that is, in a transverse direction to the mainaxis-of the machine and may be fifxed in that adjusted position bytightening the said set screw.

In order to permit the clamp mechanism to be turnedupwardly and out ofthe way when my device is not in use, the rod 36 may be, extended beyondthe bushing and a helical spring.5 8 may be mounted thereon abutting thebushing 38 at one endand a cotter-pin 60 in the rod at the other end,said spring beingunder compression at all times. A collar 62 fastened tothe rod 36 by a screw 63 maybe provided with a tongue 65% adapted tolock into a; correspondingrecess 65 in the v end of thebushingBS..therebytholding thearm 18 locked' in normal operativeposition; Then it is desired to turn-the arm-into a horizontalinoperative position, it maybe grasped and pulled out moving the rod 36longitudinally, compressiiu thesprihg 58 and pulling the tongue 64' outof the recess 65 when the arm may be turned laterally upwardly into-theposition shown in Fi 6-. The spring 58 will holdthearm-in such lateralposition.- 'To restore it to normal position the arm is simply turneduntil the tongue snaps into the recess.

To force the clamp down upon the work in order that the pin points onthe turn-table may penetrate it to hold it securely against movementrelative to the turn-table, any suitable means capable of exerting therequired pressure may be employed. Preferably such means should beindependent of the clamp mechanism so as not to interfere with the correct placing of the work in relation to the pivot guide pin 22.Furthermore, such an arrangement enables me to apply the pressure to theclamp mechanism when needed and not before, that is, just before and solong as the clamp engages the work.

In the form of means shown, a pressing arm 67 (l ig. 5) may be pivotallymounted at one end on a screw stud 68 set in a depending bracket 70fasten by a screw 71 to the face 72 of the overhanging arm of themachine. The pressing arm may extend parallel to the longitudinal axisof the machine and its free end may have its lower edge turned laterallyto form a shelf or flange 74 adapted to engage the top of the clampcarrying stem 16, the flange 74 being sufficiently long to engage thestem whatever its adjusted position. A spring 76, having one end turnedover the upper edge of the free end of the arm and its other coiledabout the screw stud 68, and under tension forces the arm downwardly toimpart the necessary pressure upon the clamp. The coiled end of thespring 76 may be arranged in the split end of a bushing 77 looselymounted on a screw 78 threaded through a laterally bent portion 79 ofthe bracket 7 0 and the pressure exerted by the spring may be adjustedto a certain extent by turning the screw 7 8 in one direction or theother. A set-nut 80 holds the said screw in adjusted position.

For controlling the position of the pressing arm 67 a laterallyextending lug 81 may be fixed to the pressenbar in position to act as astop engaging the lower edge of the pressing arm to hold it in a raisedposition so that it will not engage the stem 16 to exert pressure on theclamp until near the end of the downward movement of the presser-bar.The time of the engagement may be regulated by adjusting the lug 81vertically on the presser-bar;

In the drawings my invention is illustrated as applied to a sewingmachine of ordinary and well-known construction; only a portion of thework-support and the end of the overhanging arm and the operatinginstrumentalities carried thereby being shown. parts of the 'machine notheretofore mentioned comprise a needle-bar 82 carrying a needle 83,secured therein by a screw 84; the said bar being verticallyreciprocable in a housing 85 in the end 86 of the overhanging arm. Inthe work-support 30 is arranged a The feeding-member 87 adapted tocooperate with an idler roll 88 rotatably mounted in the end of an arm89 supported in a yoke-hanger 90, an adjustable stop 91 being arrangedin the upper portion of the arm 89 adapted to bear against a lowerportion of the yoke-hanger to limit the inward movement of theidlerroll. A spring 92 in the yoke-hanger overlaps a portion of the arm89 and holds it in operative position. A lever 94 may be connected tothe presser-bar for raising and lowcring it independently of theoperation of the machine.

In Figs. 8 to 10 inclusive are shown four samples of circular stitchingwhich may be used for ornamental work. In Fig. 8 is shown a vamp 100having a line of circles 101 across the toe cap and a line of halfcircles 102 abutting the inside edge of the vamp. In Fig. 9, a portionof the work 104 is shown having the design made up of a row of halfcircles 106 in overlapped arrangement and in Fig. 10 a portion of thework 108 showing another arrangement of half circles 110. In preparingthe work which is used in the operation of my device, all that isnecessary is to mark it with lines in which the centers of the circlesor portions of circles are to be located. For instance, in the line ofcircles 101 a guide line shown as a broken line 112 is marked upon thevamp in the proper location and in this line lie the centers of allcircles used for that particular decoration. Where half circles arearranged adjacent an edge of the work, it is unnecessary to mark theshoe part since the pivot point of the turn-table forming the center ofeach half circle may be located just within the edge. In Fig. 9, oneline 114 is all that is required but in Fig. 10, two lines 116 and 118are necessary for the centers. Where intricate designs are produced, itmay be necessary to use more lines for the various centers. It will benoticed that there is no limit to the variety of designs which may beproduced by the use of my device and it is possible to produce veryintricate and beautiful ornamentations which may be further heightenedby the use of different colored threads where the work is done by astitching machine or in case of perforating, the material may be backedup by backing layers of different colors. In the operation of my device,the turntable is first adjusted by manipulation of the screw 34 so thatthe distance between the center of the turn-tableand the operatinginstrumentalities is equal to the radius of the circle of work desired,and the clamp mechanism is likewise adjusted by manipulation of theset-screw 54 so that the pivot guide pin is exactly over the center ofthe turn-table.

. The work 107 is then placed upon the worksupport of the machine andadjusted so that the center of the first circle is under the pivot guidepin. The presser bar is them dropped and the clamp descends upon thework, the pivot guide pin being retracted in the bore thereof as theplunger descends. Toward the end of the downward stroke of thepresser-bar, the pressing arm 67 descends and the shelf 74 engages thetop of the stem 16 exerting a downward pressure thereon and forcing theclamp down upon the work thereby causing the points on the turn-table topenetrate the Work and to hold it securely against relative movement onthe turn-table. The machine may then be started in operation and in thecase of a sewing machine, the needle starts to stitch and the work isfed by the feeding member 87 acting in cooperation with the idler-roll88. The work being pivoted on the turn-table and the turn-table andclamp and stem all being freely rotatable, the ordinary feeding movementcauses the work to be turned and the stitching to be laid on in acircular path. After the circle has been completed, the operator thenraises the presser-bar and clamp, moves the work to a new center andresumes the process and so on until the line of circular stitching hasbeen completed. In marking half circles, the operator may at the end ofa half circle, leave thegneedle down in the work and to get the nextcenter may pivot the work on the needle when the stitching may beresumed for the next half circle. In this manner of operat ing, theneedle is used as apivot for moving the work to the new center on theturn-table 2 so that half circles or quarter circles may be placed withgreat accuracy.

It will be observed that-my device is so constructed that it is adaptedfor application to existing sewing, perforating and similar machineswithout necessitating any radical changes therein and without changingthe normal operation of said machines. After application, the machinemay be used for other classes of work by merely turning the clampingmember upwardly and out of the way.

Furthermore, the relatively small diameters of the turn-table and theclamping members permit these members to be adjusted, when desired, inclose proximity to the operating instrumentalities of the machine foroperating on circles of small radii which is an advantage of specialimportance in ornamenting shoe parts with circular stitchingorperforating.

Although I have shown my invention applied to a sewing machine forornamenting shoe parts, it is perfectly evident that this device is notto be limited to shoe parts since it may be used on all kinds of workfor making ornamental designs either by stitching, perforating,embossing, imprinting, or in other ways, nor is it ,to be limited to anyparticular class of machinessinceit is capable of alarge and extendeduse in many machines.-

In some cases slight changes may be required to adapt my invention toparticular machines but such will be obvious to one skilled in the art.

It is to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to theprecise form herein shown and described since it is susceptible ofembodiment in various forms of construc tion all within the purview ofthe following claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a fixedWork-support, means for operating upon the work normally in a straightline, a slide set in said worksupport and adjustable in a directionperpendicular to the normal line of feed, a turntable rotatably mountedin said slide and means for clamping the work on said turntable; bothsaid turn-table and said clamping means being adjustable independentlyof each other toward and away from said operating means in a pathperpendicular to the normal line of feed.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a fixedwork-support, means for feeding and operating upon the work norm ally ina straight line, a turn-table set in said work-support and a clamp forclamping the work to said turn-table; said clamp being centrally boredand having a pin loosely mounted and retractible therein for centeringthe work without injury thereto on said turn-table.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a fixedwork-support, means for feeding and operating upon the work normally ina straight line, a slide set in said work support and adjustable in adirection perpendicular to the normal line of feed, a turn-tablerotatably mounted in said slide and an independent clamp for clampingthe work to said turn-table, said turntable and said clamp being bothadjustable independently of each other in relation to said operatingmeans along a line from said operating means perpendicular to the normalline of feed, and means independent of said clamp for exerting aclamping pressure thereon in all positions of adjustment thereof. 7

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a fixedwork-support, means foroperating upon the work normally along a straightline, a turn-table set in said work-support, a clamp vertically andloosely mounted above said turn-table, both said turn-table and saidclamp being adjustable in relation to said operating means along a lineperpendicular to the normal line of feed, and a pivotally mounted springpressed arm having its free end adapted to engage the top of said clampirrespective of its adjusted position for forcing said clamp downwardlyto hold the work on said turn-table.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a fixedwork-support, means for 'feeding the work, mans for operating upon thework, a slide mounted in said work-support having its longitudinal axisperpendicular to the normal line of feed at the operating means andbeing longitudinally adjustable, a turn-table rotatably mounted in saidslide, a vertically movable clamp adapted for pressing the work downupon said turn-table, means for adjusting said clamp corresponding tothe adjustment of said turn-table, a pivot guide finger loosely mountedin said clamp for locating the work upon said turn-table and retractabletherein and means for exerting pressure upon said clamp to hold saidWork on said turn-table against movement in relation thereto.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a fixedwork-support, means for operating upon the work normally along astraight line, a presser-bar, a turntable set in said work-support, aclamp vertically and loosely mounted above said turn-table, both saidturn-table and said clamp being adjustable in relation to said operatingmeans along a line perpendicular thereto and to the normal line of feed,a pivotally mounted spring pressed arm having its free end adapted forengagement with the top of said clamp irrespective of its adjustedposition for forcing said clamp downwardly to hold the work on saidturn-table and means carried by said presser-bar for raising said arm torelease said clamp when said presser-bar is raised.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination of a fixedwork-support, means for operating upon the work normally along astraight line, a presser-bar, a turn table set in said work-support, aclamp Ver- .tically and looselv mounted above said turntable, both saidturn-table and said clamp being adjustable in relation to said operatingmeans along a line perpendicular thereto and to the normal line of feed,spring-pressed means, independent of said clamp, for fore ing said clampdownwardly, when said press er-bar is lowered, to clamp the work on saidturn-table and means carried by said presserbar for raising saidspring-pressed means to release said clamp whenever said presser bar israised.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination of a fixedwork-support, mean for operating upon the worknormally in a straightline, a turn-table mounted in said work-support, a clamp loosely mountedabove.

said turn-table and provided with a central bore opening downwardly,said turn-table and said clamp being adjustable toward and from saidoperating means along a line perpendicular to the normal line of feed, apin loosely mounted in said bore for centering the work on saidturn-table, said pin being retractable in said bore to avoid injury tothe face of the work when said clamp is in clamping position, and means,independent of said clamp, for forcing it downwardly to clamp the workon said turn-table.

9. In a device or" the character described, the combination of a fixedwork-support, means for operating upon the work normally along astraight line, a slide set in said worksupport and adjustable thereinalong a line perpendicular to the normal line of feed, a turn-tablecarried by said slide, a clamp loosely mounted above saidturn-tableindependent thereof and adjustable along said perpendicularline to correspond to the adjustment of said turntable, said clamp beingso mounted as to be capable of being turned upwardly and out of the waywhen not in use, and means for forcing said clamp downwardly to clampthe work on said turn-table.

10. The combination with, a work-support, presser-bar and means foroperating upon the work normally in a straight line of means for holdingthe Work close to said operating mean to cause it to feed in a circularpath of small radius; said means comprising a slide mounted in saidwork-support and adjustable in a direction perpendicular to the normalline of feed, a turn-table carried by said slide, a spindle clamp forholding the work on said turn-table, said turn-table and said clampbeing of approximately equal diameter, and means whereby the work isclamped on said turntable by said clamp whenever the said presser-bar islowered.

11. In a device of the character described the combination of a slottedwork-support,

means for operating on the work, a slide mounted in the slot in saidwork-support and adjustable therein in a direction perpendicular to thenormal line of feed, a turn-table rotatably mounted insaid slide, andmeans independent of said turn-tablefor clamping the work on saidturn-table.

12. In a device of the character described, the combination of a worksupport having a slot perpendicular to the normal line of feed, meansfor operating on the work, a slide adjustably mounted in said slot, aturn-table carried by said slide and an independent clamp for clampingthe work on said turntable; said turn-table and said clamp both being ofa diameter sufiiciently restricted to permit said members to beadjusted'with their center close to said operating means in order toproduce circular ornamentation of a radius sufficiently small to besuitable for shoe parts and similar work. V

In witness whereof,I hereunto set my hand this twenty-fourth day ofDecember, 1925.

v GUSTAF E. ANDERSON.

